SOSC 103DSocial Inequality in HK

Lecture 19: Social Exclusion and Cohesion

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Marginalized groups Groups of people who have encountered

difficulties in participating fully in society

Those who are in lack of: Economic resources (poverty) Community support (discrimination) Social rights (citizenship)

Esp. Multiple Deprivation

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Example: Street sleepers How are they being marginalized?

Exclusion from land Exclusion from security Labour market exclusion

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Example: Street sleepers How are they being marginalized?

Exclusion from land Exclusion from security Labour market exclusion

An initial cause of social exclusion (poverty)

A result of further exclusion (discrimination)

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Example: Street sleepers How are they being marginalized?

Exclusion from land Exclusion from security Labour market exclusion

Exclusion from goods and services Exclusion from social and political rights Exclusion from development strategies

Role of the government, policies and the social system

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Cage-homers, Elderly, New arrivals, Ethnic minorities

Other E.g. of marginalized groups

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Single parent families

Youth (finished schooling but unemployed)

The disabled or those who have serious illness

Released prisoners

Sex workers

Other E.g. of marginalized groups

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Problem of social exclusion Social isolation (vicious circle)

Invisible in our “normal” society Policies and development further neglect

their needs and problems

Hostility Social instability Lack of social cohesion

Social problems Criminals

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Problem of social exclusion Recent problem:

From neglect to concern?

Stigmatization (role of government, media, etc.)

Discrimination (role of the general public and employers)

Further marginalized

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Hostility爭 取 居 港 權 人 士 在 入 境 處 縱 火 ， 五 十 人 死 傷 二 OOO 年 八 月 二 日 下 午 ， 廿 多 名 自 稱 有 居 港 權 的 內 地 人 ， 在 入

境 處 要 求 獲 發 身 份 證 無 效 後 ， 有 人 用 易 燃 液 體 放 火 ， 令 廿 多 名 入 境 處 職 員 及 卅 多 名 內 地 人 士 當 場 受 傷 。 其 中 入 境 處 高 級 事 務 主 任 梁 錦 光 及 爭 取 居 權 的 內 地 人 林 小 星 先 後 傷 重 不 治 。 警 方 稍 後 落 案 起 訴 十 九 名 涉 嫌 與 縱 火 有 關 的 內 地 人 。

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Hostility Chinese migrants torch Hong Kong

immigration buildingAugust 2, 2000

Migrants from mainland China doused Hong Kong immigration headquarters with flammable liquid Wednesday evening, then set a fire that injured 46 people, including three officials who were seriously burned.

Eighteen immigration officers and an unspecified number of mainlanders were hurt as Hong Kong's drawn-out dispute over residency rights turned violent in the migrants' most dramatic effort yet to avoid being sent home.

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Readings:

Saloojee, Anver (2001) “Social Inclusion, Citizenship and Diversity,” in the Canadian Council on Social Development http://www.ccsd.ca/subsites/inclusion/bp/as.htm